Testing capacity for coronavirus in the two approved virus research and diagnostic laboratories in Manipur has considerably increased, with a 31-year-old man testing positive for Covid-19 amidst the rush of thousands of stranded people returning from different cities.

Sources from the laboratories at JNIMS said with the manpower and testing kits available at the laboratory at present, 150 tests can be done on a single day.

Director Th. Bhimo said the laboratory has capacity of testing even more.

If necessary, JNIMS can increase its capacity, he said.

RIMS can have 120 to 180 persons tested for Covid-19 at its laboratories on a single day, medical superintendent Dr Ch. Arun said. The laboratory has enough machines and manpower for this, he said.

Director of RIMS, A. Santa, two more machines for coronavirus testing have been installed on Thursday.

Mask super power: A man walks past a mural with superheroes asking to take precautions against coronavirus in Guwahati on Friday. (PTI)

A special team of doctors of JNIMS, who successfully treated and cured the first Covid-19 patient of Manipur, has started treating the man who tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday.

Hospital sources said the patient in the Covid ward is still asymptomatic.

Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh said people who return home from other states on their own by hiring private vehicles will be banned from entering the state for some time.

He said the ban will be only temporary and has been necessitated as thousands of people are returning from different cities either by special trains or by hiring private vehicles on their own.

He said it was unfortunate that one such person who went to Mumbai for his father’s treatment and returned from Mumbai on their own has tested positive.

He appealed to the people not to worry as the government was putting all its resources to fight spread of the virus in the state.